Driving performance and economy: How to find the perfect balance

The performance vs. economy question is one that tends to vex motorists looking to buy a new vehicle. However, you don’t necessarily have to steer clear of the high performance models and the non-eco options to be able to achieve economy with what you drive. There are still ways to ensure that you get the perfect balance between these two crucial factors.

Buy a car that suits your needs

If you want to get the best in terms of both performance and economy then finding a car that is the right fit for your lifestyle is going to be crucial. For example, if you live in an urban environment and you’re only likely to need a car for driving around the city then there’s no need for a car with a large engine to support high speeds and powerful acceleration.

A smaller car with a smaller engine will be both more convenient for cramped driving and parking conditions and much more economical in terms of being suited to the style of driving that a city requires. On the other hand, if you’re looking to cover longer distances at higher speeds, a larger engine can do this much more economically.

Considering the options

There are lots of crossovers today between performance models and vehicles that have a more economical drive. For example, many manufacturers today include “sport” mode (or 4WD), which means that there are additional performance options available on a car that is essentially designed to be a more economical option to drive every day.

Turbocharging is another technological advance that creates more choice. Those cars that have this function may have smaller engines that are actually able to produce more power than larger engines made in previous years. So, with some models, you can have all the power and performance of a larger car with the economy of a smaller engine.

Driving and maintenance

You can increase the economical nature of any car by making sure that it is properly maintained. For example, ensuring that you have the right pressure in your tyres means you can reduce fuel consumption – if tyre pressure is too low then more fuel will be necessary to overcome added resistance. The way you drive will also have an impact on how economical the vehicle is – gentle acceleration and smooth driving consume less fuel. Keeping speeds low and avoiding a situation where you have to break suddenly will also help to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, making the car more economical to drive.

Additional features

Many performance cars today also include features that are designed to improve economy. For example, if your vehicle has cruise control you could save around 6%in fuel costs while driving on the motorway. Other features, such as LED headlights and emissions sensors, have a range of benefits, both when it comes to economising and also the impact that you’re having on the world around while driving.

Performance vs. economy is not such a choice as it might have been in years gone by. Today, there are many more options for integrating both into your daily drive.

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